Magnetic level



April 1957 G. E. MILEY 2,789,363

MAGNETIC LEVEL Filed July 6, 1955 if y 'II II- l li'ir INVENTOR.

6 65 17 JV/AZ/ zrrzewy' United States Patent MAGNETIC LEVEL George E. Miley, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application July 6, 1953, Serial No. 366,146 1 Claim. (Cl. 33207) This invention relates to levels and more particularly to magnetic levels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic level adapted to be used in the electrical industry.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a magnetic level which may be used for plumbing up electrical conduits and which can be used on panel boxes and many other types of equipment in the electrical industry.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a magnetic level bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and etlicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is -a bottom plan view of a first form of magnetic level;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof showing the grooved side;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of one of the magnets;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a level body of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the level body of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view showing a part of the groove and the knurled bottom plate which fits therein;

Figs. 9 through 1 1 show application of the magnetic level of Figs. 5 through 8 to electrical conduits and a panel box.

Referring now to the figures, and more particularly Figs. 1 through 4, 10 represents a body portion of metal or preferably lightweight plastic having a flat top surface 11 provided along the length thereof with a groove 12 adapted to receive therewithin a conduit of electrical type, and a fiat bot-tom 13 provided with four circular openlugs 14 within which are positioned circular magnets 15, substantially as illustrated.

The bottom flat surface 13 is provided with elongated grooves 16, -17, 18, 19 and 20 which are aligned with grooves 21 provided in each of the magnets 15, the grooves 16 through 20 and 21 cooperating to receive therewithin an electrical conduit. Due to the grooves 12, 16 through 20 and 21, the body portion 10 will remain mounted upon the electrical conduits 22 (Fig. 3) under the act-ion of the magnets 15. Suitable bubbles, not shown, are mounted upon the top, bottom and side faces of the body 10 and permit the device to be used as a level without having to touch the same.

Patented Apr. 23, 1957 With reference now particularly to Figs. 5 through 11, there is shown a form of the present invention wherein a body portion 10a of lightweight plastic is provided with a hat top surface 11a, a flat bottom surface 13a and curved side walls 14a, substantially as illustrated. A level of the bubble type 23 is mounted across the top face 11a along with a second level of the bubble type 24, the level 24 extending longitudinally at right angles to the transverse level 23. The side wall 14a is provided with a double level 25 of the bubble type as well as a second vertical level of the bubble type 26, the axes of the levels 25 and 26 being disposed at right angles to each other. The level 26 will be used as a plumb. Magnets 27 are mounted in the grooves 31 in the bottom face 13a, shown in Figure 8,'for a purpose similar to the magnets 15 of the first form. A cover plate 28 may be provided for the bottom surface 13a, being secured thereto by screws 29 extending through holes 32, 32 in plate 28 into threaded holes 33, 33 in the bottom 13a. The plate 28 will be preferably made of a metal having a rough finish (such as a nail file), avoiding thereby slippage. The plate 28 will act as a keeper for mechanically retaining the magnets 27 in place. The magnets 27 can thus be renewed and are removable by removing the screws 29 and the bottom plate 28.

As shown in Fig. 9, the device may be used to plumb an electrical conduit 22, the conduit being lined up without the operators having to touch the magnetic level itself. The magnets 27 will retain the level in the operative position shown. As shown in Fig. 10, the devices may be used to level the conduit (now horizontal) 22 from either the top or the bottom. The levels will stay on without holding, due to the magnets 27. As shown in Fig. 11, the magnetic level may be used on a panel box 30, as well as switch boxes, pull boxes and many other types of electrical equipment, not shown. The magnetic levels may be used to plumb the vertical sides of the panel box or to level the top and bottom portions.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what is claimed is:

A magnetic level including a level body having a top surface and a substantially fiat bottom surface, the bottom surface of said level body having a pair of transverse grooves forming shallow slots, magnets individually mounted in the transverse grooves with the magnets substantially flush with said bottom surface, securing means for retaining the magnets in said grooves comprising a retaining plate adapted to cover the bottom surface, with screws for retaining the plate upon said bottom surface and said magnets, and a plurality of bubble type levels disposed across the top and sides of said level body with the axes of said bubble type levels being disposed at right angles to each other, and the outer surface of said retaining plate being knurled to prevent slippage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 361,248 Winton Apr. 12, 1887 1,012,740 Stamps Dec. 26, 1911 1,108,134 Cassity Aug. 25, 1914 1,617,937 Boucher et a1. Feb. 15, 1927 1,624,741 Leppke et a1 Apr. 12, 1927 1,639,580 Thompson Aug. 16, 1927 2,014,420 Zieman Sept. 17, 1935 2,535,791 Fluke Dec. 26, 1950 

